South Molton Rural

A local policing neighbourhood in Devon & Cornwall Police

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Contact Details

telephone: 101
email: [email protected]

Neighbourhood Priorities

Rural Crime and ASB

Devon and Cornwall is the largest police force in England and the vast majority of the area is classed as rural. The team covers a large area of Exmoor which borders with Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Given how isolated and remote the location is this can often be seen as a soft target for criminals and can invariably lead to an increase in reported thefts of livestock, farm and plant machinery, equine property, fuel theft and items forming part of our local heritage.

As a team we also encounter victims that have been intimidated and suffered damage by poachers, fly tipping, poor control of dogs and those illegally damaging our environment and wildlife.

Whilst crime statistics across this area remain low and whilst being a victim of crime here remains lower than most parts of the UK, we don’t wish to be complacent. Therefore we will be focussing on rural crime and looking to support those within our rural communities.

We will do this by actively carrying out rural crime patrols, attending key events within the community and assisting the Rural Affairs Unit providing support to those who need it. We will also be supported by colleagues from Roads Policing taking part in Operation Landlike, with a specific focus in and around the Exmoor area. This seeks to compliment the current South West regional activity being promoted to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries under the Vision Zero South West.

Issue Date Thursday 9th February 2023

Update: 09 February 2023 - Op Landlike 17th January 2023

Thanks to the hard work of the officers assisting with Op Landlike, the activity resulted in the following:

x12 licenced premises visited - passing advice and offering support.
x1 RTC – Vehicle skidded and flipped on ice. Driver ejected from the moving vehicle via soft roof canopy - Driver was uninjured.
x1 Drug wipe.
x5 Breath tests.
x2 Words of advice.
x1 CLE/26 (No Tax).
x3 tickets issued for offences.
x3 Vehicle seizures.
x1 Reported for summons.
x2 Arrests (x1 of which was impaired driving – drugs).

Action Date Thursday 9th February 2023

Antisocial behaviour - Dealing with this effectively and building public confidence.

The South Molton Neighbourhood Team recognises the impact that Anti-social behaviour can have on a community, not only can this be intimidating but it can also invoke fear amongst those living within our community.

As a result the Team will work in partnership with a number of partner agencies and key stakeholders to address this behaviour. The team will carry out regular patrols of the Town, utilising powers particularly under the Anti-social, Crime and Policing Act to deal with rowdy groups and their inappropriate behaviour.

We will further look to tackle any licenced premises or addresses that may act as a breeding ground for any Anti-social behaviour using our various powers and partners to reduce and eradicate the problem.

The team will be visible within the Town, completing both high vis and plain clothes patrols looking to educate and deal positively with any individuals who commit crime within our Policing area.

Issue Date Tuesday 7th February 2023

Update: 10 March 2023 - 10th March 2023

Over the last few months, patrols within the town have been increasing and areas identified through interactions with the community that have caused some concern. As a result we will continue to carryout high visibility patrols in those areas to try and disrupt groups that are set in their ways to cause problems.

As spring approaches and the warmer weather nears I would also encourage parents to keep an eye on their children and play an active part in knowing what they are up to and where they are hanging around. We will continue to interact with all that we come across and any negative encounters will be fed back to parents.

I would encourage anyone though who has been having problems to contact us through this webpage or via 101 to report any ASB they maybe experiencing to see how we can help. We have a range of powers that can be used in order to tackle the issue but we can only do this if we are getting reports!

Sgt Brown

Action Date Friday 10th March 2023

Neighbourhood Events

Meet the officers - Witheridge.
Wednesday 19th June 2024
from 1:00PM to 1:30PM
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Fire Station, Fore Street, Witheridge,, Devon, EX16 8AH